the villas handbook

terracotta pots, exposed beams and ‘beachfront’ condo that overlooked a designer pool so cool, I wanted to four lanes of highway before any Cabanellas welcomed us, Keys to success open a Facebook account if only to water actually appeared. So, my top all chic green shutters and ‘share’ it with ‘friends’ straightaway. tips when looking online? You must Want space? Freedom? Five-star style at three-star prices? A villa can deliver all of this, Had this been a B&B, it would have read the smaller details (what’s the weathered stone, like a little says Katie Bowman — just as long as you follow some simple house rules… cost at least £200 a night for the point of a pool if it’s not heated in teensiest room, but the entire week March?). You need to analyse the boutique hotel from heaven. word of warning: When you’re on a villa holiday, three terraces to choose from). The here cost just over £1,000 (sleeping photos to work out what goes where Except… it was all ours if you’re inclined there is — catastrophically, but also villa had spaces for when we wanted six, that worked out at £24pp, per (is that a kitchen coming off the to put on a couple wonderfully — no reason not to eat to be together, and spaces for when night). And nobody shuffled us baby’s bedroom?). You have to ask occasion and a sketchy time of year, of pounds each what you want, when you want. we needed to be apart. We never out at 9am to clean the room. uncomfortable questions (‘Can you April. We needed expertise, not just summer holiday, There are no prohibitive hotel menu had to eat dinner in the same place. I’ll level with you, there have been remove that deathtrap of a sculpture blinding choice. you’ll gain double prices. No room service charges. No Never had to whisper on the balcony villa disappointments. Try as you before we arrive, please?’). And be After a chat over the phone that on a villa strict restaurant opening hours. And because Baby was sleeping in the might, there are some things you can adaptable. If you’re ready for a little listening to my paranoia and peeves, break. When you spot a round of no slow (or, worse, forgetful) service. next room. And never had to knock never predict when it comes to compromise, you’ll be dandy. Simpson laid down the law: I wanted plump Camembert on the kitchen And those are just four off-the- try the middle on doors, trying to find each other staying in a stranger’s home. While So how did we find the near- an EU country (in case baby gets ill), a ground sideboard, there’ll be nothing to stop top-of-my-head reasons to love If you’ve qualms down long hotel corridors. a hotel has thousands of reviews, perfection that was Villa Cabanellas but I didn’t want a small island (no you sweeping a tranche across a villas. Another? The space! On one about renting a villa Am I making my point? It’s not TripAdvisor ratings and online guest in Mallorca? The first step was to decent infrastructure), nor did I want Breakfast is served: hunk of baguette and eating it in multi-generational trip to Lanzarote, for the first time, that I don’t like hotels. It’s just that I photos, a villa never comes under approach a villa agent — Simpson an exclusively tourist spot (some consider a hotel opposite, croissants seconds flat. That chilled half-drunk my toddler swooped on the lawn with villas in the love villas. The freedom. The privacy. such scrutiny. Which is how I ended Travel, on this occasion. I’m a big fan on the terrace at Greek islands shut down outside bottle of Pouilly-Fuissé in the fridge swings while the uncles played grounds. You can The space. The luxury! My last villa up in a Spanish apartment with of the ‘other’ way, too — those vast Villa Cabanellas, summer), but then again, I needed door — why not finish it off, if only ping pong, while Granny read in the use all the facilities holiday was in Mallorca, where white-knuckle spiral staircase — listings sites that act merely as a Mallorca. Above, stuff to do (our party ranged in age (and don’t have to clockwise from for the recycling bin’s sake? Or the hot tub, while Granddad dozed on Cabanellas welcomed us, all chic even scarier since I was travelling house portal, putting you in touch from 3 to 68). Provence? Too chilly. cook), but you get top left, a cafe-lined pot of handmade pistachio gelato the daybed, while a cousin whipped extra privacy. See green shutters and weathered stone, with my crawling one-year-old. And with the owner (HomeAway, Airbnb, square in Pollença; Crete? Too big. Corsica? Too early. you bought in the village this up black-rice paella in the hi-tech Scottdunn.com from the top of a wildflower-strewn why I damaged my Sicilian rental car Holiday Lettings, etc) — and I’ve used the pool at Mallorca it was — Pollença in the Cabanellas; the villa morning — there it is in the freezer, kitchen, before calling all the troops and click on ‘Hotels track like a little boutique hotel from every time I went out, thanks to the them dozens of times. But this northwest, where the weather is with Villas’ in its scenic rural just begging to be downed in two to lunch on the pretty shaded terrace heaven. Except… it was all ours. driveway through farmland. And particular trip involved three surroundings; Platja often warmest, and the beaches tablespoons on a hot August night. (one uncle got lost, as there were White-wood four-poster beds, had to move out of the Floridian generations of one family, a special del Port de Pollença sheltered (the fact that BBC1’s >

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Designer looks, a pool, great gardens, a just- right location, and a collection of fishing nets that entertained the toddler for hours

The Night Manager had just aired, and postcard-perfect Pollença had stolen the spotlight, even from baddie Richard Roper, did help). Then it was time to pick the house. Villa Cabanellas ticked every box, with designer looks, a pool, great gardens, a just-right location, and a fishing-net collection that turned out to keep the toddler entertained for hours. And hours. You can never foresee what it’ll be that kids love most about a villa — it’s been a shell collection, a plastic jug and a set of curtains in other homes. But this time, the fishing nets caught the imagination of my daughter — hook, line and sinker. Domaine de Bellanger, in Aquitaine also has a soft spot for mighty Melides What I hectares plus a boating and fishing lake The trip was a success. (Our (sleeps 16; from £4,926). in , a contemporary concrete learned (sleeps 20; from £6,925). special-occasion lunch, in case you’re structure with angular pool (sleeps 8; No.1 interested, was at the cliffside fish THE MODERN HOUSE from £3,200). The intrusive owner KATE & TOM’S restaurant Ca’s Patro March, in Deià.) USP: Architectural wonders ‘Last year, our villa USP: Big UK houses But it was a success because we did More villas Because: Ah, the Modern House. How SIMPLY PERIGORD owner kept dropping Because: Too many large-scale rental in on us. Daily! When our homework, followed the golden many lunch hours we have lost, USP: Mid-range Dordogne companies don’t allow groups for those I moaned to friends, rules, and learned from villa planning fantasy holidays on your Because: Some 25 years after exiting I heard all sorts of really ‘fun’ occasions — hen and stag let-downs along the way. You? dreamy website. In fact, the company’s the City for the quiet Dordogne, owners similar stories — one dos, 50th birthdays — but most of Kate You don’t need go through all that. true schtick is selling ‘Britain’s finest Allan and Karen Higgins are still sourcing owner even crashed & Tom’s properties are for exactly such a New Year’s No, no, no. All you need do is read modern architecture’ (it’s a specialist properties, fixing pool filters and racing Eve party.’ events. There’s something to suit every this no-nonsense guide, book any we love... estate agent), but it now offers holiday between villas to ensure clients know The solution: budget, too, whether you want the Read on as we reveal the best rental agents out there, one of the brilliant villas we’ve lets in these spectacular homes, too. the best bistros and boulangeries in ‘Placate the owner’s ‘el cheapo’ get-together with school hand-picked, and have a good time. along with our pick of the best properties on their books Don’t assume this translates solely to their adopted home, described by Allan fears, and let them friends costing £50pp for three nights, know you’ll look Guaranteed. Until, that is, you arrive — every one of them gets our good-time guarantee! sharp-edged glass boxes in the back as ‘1950s , only warmer’. Their after the property as or wedding-worthy seaside country back home and get on the scales. of beyond — there are soft-focus 50 per cent repeat rate tells a tale (00 33 if it were your own. houses. Staff are friendly, and when romantic cottages in Andalucía as well 553 545431, simply-perigord.com). If that fails? Contact something goes wrong (say, the the booking agent Prices in these listings are for a week, shack with a three-star price tag, in the as bang-in-the-city apartments (020 Our fave five: Jolie Maison is a cute pool’s not open when it should be) Get me there... and let them know, Simpson Travel (020 8003 6557, low season, unless otherwise stated. grounds of Royal Garden Villas & Spa 3795 5920, themodernhouse.com). stone cottage surrounded by woodland so that they can they’re quick to compensate you simpsontravel.com) also has villas in resort (sleeps 2; from £1,824, B&B). In Our fave five: British rentals at the lower (sleeps 4; from £635). Last year, Au address it with the (01242 235151, kateandtoms.com). , , Corsica and . One OLIVER’S TRAVELS the Cotswolds, Ropewalk Cottage is end of the price spectrum sell out Bois Dormant was a cow barn with dirt homeowners — or Our fave five: Polpier in Mevagissey, leave a red-alert week at Villa Cabanellas (available April USP: Affordable luxury worldwide a gold-stone cottage in the village of fastest, Ty Hedfan in Wales being the floors; now it’s a solid, spacious villa review yourself for Cornwall, is our out-and-out favourite to October) starts at £410pp based on Because: Brainchild of best mates Oliver Blockley (sleeps 6; from £750). On bestseller — the big-windowed cubic with sweeping views from pool future guests.’ — it comes with a pool, herb garden, six sharing, including flights and car hire. Bell and Ravi Sabharwal, Oliver’s Travels Saint Lucia, Tamarind House is a breezy property cantilevers eye-catchingly and terrace (sleeps 6; from £860). David Chile, Exeter disco, ping-pong room and seaside Alternatively, the villa alone starts at has quirky properties that don’t cost the bargain with a pool, tennis court and over River Ysgir (sleeps 6; from £1,050). Another renovation, Au Bord de la views (sleeps 16; from £4,030). £1,001 per week. If you do travel Earth. Châteaux are their mainstay Bathing beauty: views of those giant twin peaks, the Meanwhile, Petit Bayle in France’s Rivière (sleeps 8; from £1,499) has A Georgian pile in the rolling green of independently, fly to Palma (45 minutes’ (the pair got into rentals after a boozy above, by the pool Pitons (sleeps 6; from £3,475). A Lot-et-Garonne is so well-loved, gardens right down to the Dordogne Suffolk, Sibton Park is proper old- at Villa Burbujas, drive from Pollença) from more than week at one in the Dordogne), but their Tenerife. Opposite, stone-skim from Lago d’Orta, one of one renter took it for six months (sleeps river. In medieval Le Bugue — Simply school luxe and has a games room in 20 UK regional airports, from £59 tagline, ‘Why do ordinary?’, means clockwise from top the Italian Lakes, Palazzo Novara is a 6; from £700). The Modern House Perigord’s base — Maison de Ville is a its basement (sleeps 24; from £11,700). return (compare airlines and fares one-off villas and beach huts abound left, Château de Bois, 17th-century villa with indoor pool and co-founder Matt Gibberd has two handsome four-storey townhouse Homely Derwentwater House & Lodge at skyscanner.net). Holidayautos. (0800 133 7999, oliverstravels.com). in the Dordogne; spa (sleeps 8; from £4,071). Two lakes, mid-century modern favourites in Cape overlooking the Vézère river (sleeps 8; in the Lake District has epic Cumbrian Sibton Park’s com offers one week’s car hire in Our fave five: On Tenerife, Villa garden, in Suffolk; walled gardens and its own arboretum Cod, southern Massachusetts, USA from £906). Multi-family group? Try views (sleeps 16-20; from £3,750- Mallorca from £52. Burbujas is a five-star, Bali-style love Ty Hedfan, Wales guarantee total privacy at hilltop (each sleeping 6; from £1,600), but he Château des Bois, with 73 private 4,300), while chic modern the White >

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Villa glossary You say tomato… Rental jargon can be misleading. Get to know these common terms and what they really mean

Check-in and Odometer Many folk check-out Brace on the Continent will yourself — you usually give house directions can’t check in to according to distance, a villa until 4pm and especially if it’s in a rural check-out is 10am. The area with few road signs cleaner does have a (eg, ‘drive along this track whole house to turn for 3.2km’) — so learn around, after all. Bear this how to trip your vehicle’s in mind when buying your odometer before you flights. There’s no point set off from the car- in booking the earliest rental office. departure if you’re then left twiddling your Twin bed We know thumbs (or distracting you know what this is, tired children) ’til 4pm. but be aware that in much of Europe, a ‘double’ will Condo Or be twin beds pushed condominium. It’s together, which can be an American term for easily separated again if an apartment or flat. you prefer, or vice versa (just ask when booking). Cot Good to know if you’re a family renting Villa; Villa complex; a place Stateside. A ‘cot’ Villa hotel It sounds is a actually a pull-out obvious, but if you want or camp bed, and on-site restaurants, a ‘crib’ is a cot. reception desk and that extra blanket of security Half bath This is a (but higher rental fees), Town House, in south , is a very and is equipped with quality kitchen bizarre American term then check in to the latter sexy pad for a Big Smoke weekend kit (sleeps 4; from £715). In north Devon, that’s used to describe two. If you want complete (sleeps 12; from £6,850). Finally, the romantic Woodland Cottage is set a small bathroom, with privacy, go for the former. cosy Black Hill Farmhouse, in the Welsh on a pretty lake and well-placed for no shower or bath (we Black Mountains, is a good option countryside yomps (sleeps 2; from call it a WC). Waterfront for both hen and stag parties (sleeps £700). It looks like a Swiss chalet, but Remember this doesn’t 17-29; from £2,150-£2,550). Achnandarach Lodge is a roomy pad Kitchenette This always mean beachfront, in stunning countryside in the Scottish of California is a picture-perfect ranch come from the likes of Jeremy Clarkson is definitely not a full but can refer to lakes, RURAL RETREATS Highlands, just 8km from a railway house and four pretty cottages, ideal for and Sophie Dahl. Nuff said (020 7043 kitchen, so forget plans mangroves, canals, USP: Great British self-catering station (sleeps 9; from £1,200) — or, for big family gatherings (sleeps 20; from 2188, avenueproperty.com). to whip up a five-course marinas and such. Check Because: It’s easy to be disappointed something even quirkier, you can stay £31,700). The thatch-roofed Casa Our fave five: Mick Jagger’s Stargroves, feast. Be prepared for the description and by a holiday cottage that doesn’t live up at a Kentish lighthouse (Khina Cottage; Inspiración in Oaxaca, Mexico, is exactly on Mustique, comprises seven pavilions a gas ring and a minibar photographs carefully to those online pics — but since all the sleeps 4; from £715). After something that whitewashed beachside pad you’ve in tropical gardens above L’Ansecoy Bay fridge, possibly a kettle if you are intent on properties on Rural Retreats are vetted grand? Book the ornate, 18th-century dreamed of (sleeps 14; from £6,836), (sleeps 10; from £11,400). Along the — it might also be in being by the shore. to ensure they’re top quality (that’s Temple of Diana, in Shropshire, amid and the Georgian Spitalfields Town coast from Saint-Tropez, Château du the same space as your rare for big UK self-catering agencies), sprawling swathes of Capability Brown end of the spectrum, there are plenty of House, in east London, is a blast-from- Royal has Brigitte Bardot written all over lounge or dining room. Welcome pack you’re more likely to find they’re parkland (sleeps 6; from £1,679). flash places to be had at real-people the-past pad with plush modern the terraced-garden suntraps tumbling In one house, this can better than you imagined. From pretty prices, too (00 49 163 737 2509, amenities (sleeps 4; from £1,440). down to the sea (sleeps 20; from mean a friendly note and lighthouse cottages to quintessential WELCOME BEYOND welcomebeyond.com). £19,390). Turning the ‘crazy’ dial down a bottle of wine. In others, Cotswolds-stone homes, British breaks USP: Wow-factor pads Our fave five: Creamy white Casas AVENUE somewhat is Jupiter Villa, on the Greek it can mean a fridge full have never looked less chintzy. All Because: Wow is what you’ll utter Caiadas, deep in the rural Alentejo yet USP: A-lister crashpads island of Skiathos — a Kevin McCloud Regal blues: of food with Prosecco on properties come with bounteous when you step into any one of Welcome just an hour’s drive from Lisbon, looks opposite, Château Because: Sometimes, only Mick Jagger’s fantasy of minimalist Zen decor ice. Check exactly what hampers and, in our experience, the Beyond’s properties, available in like an ancient Portuguese farmhouse, du Royal, south of Mustique pad will do. Avenue’s founder, and glass (sleeps 12; from £11,630). is included before you owners go the extra mile — one even dozens of countries from Mexico to but is a vision in cool modern France. Above, Annabel Brooks, is as well connected Designed by Manuel Aires Mateus, clockwise from top arrive so you know what left us a handwritten welcome note Germany. Personal touches (you minimalism within (sleeps 8; from left, Khina Cottage at as her sister-in-law, the media exec Portugal’s architect to the stars, you need to buy from (01386 897801, ruralretreats.co.uk). actually know who the owners are) and £2,049). The bonkers, reflective Mirror North Foreland Rebekah, persuading ‘villarati’ from Les Terrasses de Comporta, set in the supermarket on Our fave five: The 17th-century design feature heavily in their preened Houses in the South Tyrol will get any Lighthouse, Kent; Brazil to the Balearics to open their expansive private grounds, lords it over the way there. stone Midsummer Cottage, in the pads — from mirror-clad houses in the minimalist-architecture fan’s heart Temple of Diana, homes to holiday hoi polloi like you Melides village, not far from the Atlantic Shropshire; Casa gingerbread-house Cotswolds village wilds of to California farmhouses racing (sleeps 2-4; from £993-£1,158), Inspiración, in and me. Actually, not me: Avenue is (sleeps 8; from £4,660). One hour of Stanton, looks good enough to eat — and while they do cater for that top while Thacher House in the Ojai Valley Oaxaxo, Mexico awesomely pricey — endorsements north of Sydney, Palm Beach Villa has >

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Where the art is: from left, the 16th- century Villa Goga, near Siena; pool at Elissa, Paxos; Domaine Cahors in the Lot. Opposite, Agnos House, Corfu

wall-to-wall windows overlooking sea and beach (sleeps 8; from £6,925).

IONIAN VILLAS USP: Ionian islands Because: The founder, David Watrous anything, underselling it. Cotswold What I INVITATION TO TUSCANY — ex-MD of Greek Island Club — has chums Victoria Hooberman and learned USP: Old-money Tuscany (with No.2 lived and breathed Ionian villas for 40- Maymie White have two bulging Provence and Italian Lakes on the side) plus years. There’s nothing prohibitively black books of contacts, and they’re When the house Because: This is Dan Wrightson’s flash about the 200-odd properties on not afraid to use them. Their website doesn’t match the domain — the company director, he his books, but all have been scrutinised lists about 100 sighingly gorgeous description grew up on a farm near Siena after ‘Not only was our by Watrous (or his wife Vivienne and properties in Europe, and last villa not as his good-lifer parents swapped son Alex), and offer affordable, flexible Turkey, but ring them and they’ll advertised (dirty, Merseyside for Tuscany. Wrightson lengths of stay, with fixed changeover whisper the names of one or two broken bulbs, is also an artist — he studied at art scummy pool) the days confined to high season (01243 more, whose owners prefer things school in Florence — and, by Giotto, supermarket was 820928, ionian-villas.co.uk). on the downlow (01749 812721, not the “pleasantly it shows in his portfolio of 200-odd Our fave five: Kefallonia properties scottwilliams.co.uk). short walk down the villas, all with pools, all regularly visited book up fast, but Marika is new to Ionian Our fave five: With nine children road” described. by Wrightson and his small team of It was a 20-minute Villas this year, so word is not yet out between them, Victoria and Maymie uphill hike (and Italian and English staff (020 8003 (sleeps 4; from £870). On Ithaca, Koukla are great on family villas: in Umbria, a struggle for 6970, invitationtotuscany.com). has a private pool above pretty Kioni Posabile has a soft-play room, fenced grandparents). Our fave five: Perched high in the Apuan Bay (sleeps 5; from £670). On Paxos, a garden, trampoline and table tennis There was Alps, Casa Argento has a hot tub on also constant five-minute stroll from Lakka’s beaches (sleeps 12; from £3,239). Near Loggos traffic noise. ‘ decking that spawned a recent marriage and tavernas, Elissa has killer views and on Paxos, Kipos Beach House lies The solution: ‘Check proposal (sleeps 2; from £714). Privacy a 9m pool (sleeps 6; from £950). Corfu’s on a cobalt cove for morning dips the distances on a priority? Olivo lies a kilometre down Google Maps rather 300-year-old Perivoli has a glorious (sleeps 12; from £10,000). Agnos than trust the its own dusty track above Radicondoli terraced garden, with views over House is a rustic-luxe stone cottage owner’s description. (sleeps 4; from £728). In the rolling bougainvillea to Corfu Town (sleeps among olives on northeastern Corfu And use Google Sienese hills, Villa Goga is a 16th- 6; from £1,130). Tiny pools get your (sleeps 13; from £16,000). ‘Off-the- Earth to see if routes century mansion in extensive grounds are treacherous.’ goat? Victoria on Lefkada (Lefkas on scale beautiful’, says Victoria of Dar Callie Ford, Bath — perfect for a large family celebration website) has a 12m pool for lengths Ourika, just south of Marrakech, with (sleeps 20; from £4,213). Podere Le before breakfast in the cypress hills its garden designed by a Chelsea gold Mandrie is a wonderfully weathered, above Vliho (sleeps 8; from £1,080). medallist, Berber-chic interiors, chef effortlessly chic Joanna Lumley of a and tennis court (sleeps 14; from villa, sunning itself in deep-green hills SCOTT WILLIAMS £12,000). In the Lot, Domaine Cahors south of Siena (sleeps 8; from £2,760). USP: Dishy click-bait — for families, too is a large-party pile in 35 private Or how about Casa del Pescatore, a Because: The company tagline ‘Unique hectares with a tennis court, games fisherman’s cottage all but dipping a toe access to extraordinary houses’ is, if room and chef (sleeps 20; from £7,500). in Lake Como (sleeps 8; from £2,432)? >

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homely for the kids, VILLA and stackable or PACKING LIST inflatable pool toys take up minimal room in your case.

✔Plug adaptors: A cheap travel adaptor will do for European houses (£2.49 for five; amzn.to/ 1TRFpcD), ✔Torch: Particularly and a multi-socket useful if you arrive extension cord if you at night and need to have lots of gadgets. look for keys or read keybox codes. Also ✔Tea bags, salt and handy for evening pepper: Most villa walks to the beach welcome hampers or local village. include the basics, but not the most ‘basic’ ✔Printed/ basics; pack these handwritten villa items and save euros address: Just in case at the supermarket. you can’t get a signal on your smartphone ✔Swiss Army knife: (also useful to hand to The scissors, tin/ a taxi driver if you don’t bottle opener and speak the language). screwdriver will get you out of ✔Tupperware: countless Great for holding unpredictable picnic ingredients for situations, even if day trips, or storing it’s only changing leftovers that absent batteries in your guests (sleeping child’s favourite toy. teens, say) can (NB, don’t pack it in scoff later. your cabin case!)

✔Sat-nav: Essential ✔Baby kit: Travel-loo for finding the villa seat/potty, play mat (even if you’re on (for those hard tiled AIRBNB fabulous spare room opening onto Villa Estrella has cool, white lines and Our fave five: In Marrakech’s medina, public transport) when floors), plug-in insect USP: Their world, your oyster terrace and pool, five minutes’ walk a foreverness of glass in a pine-clad Dar Sana is a tiny riad with shaded the owner’s given poor repellent, blackout Because: Whatever you want (two from Camps Bay (sleeps 2; from £370). hectare above Siesta (sleeps 12; from courtyard and lantern-lit roof terrace directions, or you blind (plenty of villas million homes and treehouses, igloos In Thailand, Villa Moonshadow is a £9,921). Near Cape Town, Noordhoek (sleeps 2; £901, B&B). Nowhere on initially followed the have no curtains), baby and beach huts), wherever you want it Crusoe-chic jungle lair positioned House is an open-plan new-build with Corfu beats Katerina for location. owner to the house monitor, non-slip bath (191 countries), they’ve probably got it, above the beach on Koh Samui (sleeps vaulted ceiling, decking pool and vast Perched above its own clear cove, the and later need to find mat, car booster seat with a great search engine connecting 8; from £6,315; No. 2757522). Or how picture windows over Chapman’s Peak hilltop villa is a short walk from Kerasia it alone. The best free (can be used at the you straight to property owners. City about a modern, open-plan Brazilian (sleeps 8; from £937). beach and San Stefanos’s tavernas GPS app, we’ve found, dining table and apartments are their bread and butter. beach house with a private stretch of it’d be a tough ask — but guest (sleeps 6; from £2,522). Blu Infinito may is Google Maps. restaurants, too). ‘Wherever you go, don’t go there, live sand? It sleeps eight, but a couple can reviews provide a decent cross-check CV VILLAS look like a traditional Sicilian farmhouse there. Even if it’s just for a night,’ says have it for £879 a week (No. 156247; (020 8827 1971, homeaway.co.uk). USP: Posh Med minus the overdraft from the outside, but step inside and ✔Small first-aid kit: ✔HDMI cables: the website. More than 60 million sleeps 8; from £3,350). Our fave five: Owned by an interior Because: Corfu Villas pioneered the you’ll find it full of design touches The hospital may be A godsend when you customers since 2008? They’re on designer, Rose-in-Vale farmhouse is a whole villa rental thing back in the — wrought-iron beds, faded oriental some distance from realise the TV in your to something (airbnb.co.uk). HOMEAWAY stylish Cornish cottage near Falmouth ’70s, doing such a good job that Corfu rugs — with cane loungers beside the your villa — always villa only has three Our fave five: In Paris’s historic 11th USP: Hotline to homeowners with slate-and-wood interiors (sleeps 4; became known as Kensington-on-Sea. panoramic pool (sleeps 8; from £2,450). locate the handiest Portuguese-language arrondissement, property No. 321897 Because: As the homepage says, ‘It’s from £1,060). On Lefkada in Greece, Night on the tiles: Now known as CV Villas, the company In Turkey, Kayra is a glass-and-marble doctor and late- channels — pack is an elegant two-bedroom flat, five your holiday. Why share it?’ You see, Villa Eclipse does billowing drapes and opposite, the possesses so much Med cred that many designer villa with quite sensational lantern-lit patio night pharmacy. your tablet or laptop minutes from Le Marais (sleeps 3; unlike its rival, Airbnb, which also offers daybeds by the pool, with staggering at Dar Sana riad, of Europe’s plushest pads are available infinity-pool views over Kalkan (sleeps and you can watch from £635). In Manhattan, property hotels, hostels and spare rooms in views over Vasiliki beach (sleeps 4; Marrakech. Above, only exclusively through them. They 10; from £1,259). Ripa Bianca is a rambling ✔Games and pool streamed TV No. 2629613 is a recently renovated owners’ houses, HomeAway only does from £952). On a coral cliff overlooking jungle beauty Villa can also sell flights and car-hire Umbrian farmhouse with original art toys: These can make shows and 1910 brownstone in Chelsea (sleeps 2; whole holiday homes. What you don’t Foul Bay beach on Barbados, Astra is an Moonshadow, — sparing you a slow death by and antiques, a thyme-scented garden Thailand; inset, your villa feel more downloaded films. from £1,478). In Cape Town, property get is much vetting — with more than airy three-bedroom villa with a large cool, cubic Villa a thousand clicks on Skyscanner and pool gazing across the hills above No. 11598750 is a fashion-shoot one million properties in 190 countries, pool (sleeps 6; from £1,862). Hip Ibiza? Estrella, Ibiza (020 3773 9282, cvvillas.com). Orvieto (sleeps 10; from £2,226). >

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heart, ‘experiential’ a key A&K buzzword. Villas are picked for their X factor, not just their look (01242 547705, akvillas.com). Our fave five: On the second floor of a 13th-century palazzo, Vista Siena lies right on the Piazza del Campo, stage of the infamous Palio (sleeps 2; from £1,360). In France, seemingly carved from the cliffs of Gordes, Lou Roucas — cream plaster, solid stone floors — is a 17th-century village house with views of the Luberon from bedrooms, terrace and pool (sleeps 6; from £2,072). Don’t care what it costs? On ’s Dalmatian Coast, Ray Residence is a 200-year-old villa gazing across terraced gardens and the Adriatic to Dubrovnik, with spa, gym and wine cellar, of course (sleeps 14; from £34,146). On Crete, Villa Kamy What I is Richard Rogers meets Robinson learned Crusoe: a geometric temple of stone- No.3 and-glass gorgeousness-on-sea No extra guests (sleeps 10; from £3,019). Maroma is allowed a four-hectare Andalucían estate, ‘To celebrate my with two whitewashed, hilltop villas 50th, my wife and I booked a swish (sleeps 14; from £6,976). Tuscan villa — it was just us two, though JAMES VILLAS the house had three USP: Cheap ’n’ cheerful, bags of choice big bedrooms. One night we had friends Because: Founder Jimmy Needham was over from another heavily influenced by his father-in-law, villa, and my a union man — contracts were daughter joined us for a surprise. sacrosanct, villa owners were always However, when the paid, so they signed up in droves. Today owners found out, James Villas is one of the UK’s biggest they wouldn’t return specialists, offering a staggering range our £200 deposit as we ‘weren’t of homes and apartments in Morocco, allowed extra the Caribbean, Mediterranean and US overnight guests’. (0800 074 0122, jamesvillas.co.uk). The solution: ‘As far as villa owners are Our fave five: Croatian decor can VINTAGE TRAVEL with beer pump (sleeps 12; £1,550). vetted by the fussy folk at Smith and an infinity pool with dizzying coastal (sleeps 8; from £1,977), while Orrizonte concerned, their seem stuck naffly in the ’80s, but Villa USP: Mid-range Med with pools Every aristocratic inch the 17th-century HQ, with an airport meet-and-greet views (sleeps 12; from £13,944). Blu, near Noto, is a stylish one-level cleaning bill rises as Filip — with its bleached floorboards, Because: You know how hideous it is, mansion, with tennis court and games and 24/7 local concierge (0330 100 house in farmland, which also guests increase. floor-to-ceiling sea views, hot tub, I didn’t realise this. trawling the internet for flights? Well, room, Quinta de São Bento, north of 3180, mrandmrssmith.com). MASSIMO VILLAS welcomes families (sleeps 8; from I also didn’t tennis court and pool — is as hip as any Vintage Travel will do it for you for free, Porto, is a steal at less than £140pp Our fave five: Can Frigola is all about USP: Sicily, inside out £2,174). Terra di Sole has a stonking pool appreciate they’d Cornish beach shack (sleeps 4; from leaving you to shop for bikinis and ogle a week (sleeps 12; from £1,650). outdoor living, with an open-air gym, Because: Local boy and founder overlooking the sea close to Licata, in given us a small £1,894; pictured overleaf). A short stroll occupancy discount. the website. Once you’re on holiday, Ultra-modern Elmas, in Turkey, has poolside daybeds and a roof terrace Massimo knows Sicily so intimately, the south (sleeps 10; from £1,557); Villa from Galley Bay on Antigua’s pretty Next time, I’ll run our Vintage Travel reps or local agents mighty views from kitchen, bedroom, overlooking Ibiza’s west coast (sleeps you shouldn’t be surprised if your Jamal, near southwesterly Selinunte, plans by the agency northwest coast, Villa Daydream has a steer you towards the deserted beach terrace and infinity pool over the Lycian 6; from £3,660). Near San Josep in Ibiza, butcher or gelato seller asks how he’s has gardens a-go-go (sleeps 6; from and get permission wraparound terrace with pool and at the end of the winding track, or the Coast (sleeps 10; from £1,550). Can Love is a chic, heaven-on-baked- doing once you’ve checked in to your £1,574); and Villa Vigneto Villagrande in writing, too. The ocean view (sleeps 4; from £3,031). whole experience taverna with the best kleftiko (01954 earth finca, with sea views from villa. What this means is that every nook sits right in the middle of a vineyard, was really Côte d’Azur postcodes don’t come 261431, vintagetravel.co.uk). MR & MRS SMITH hammock and pool, and a pasha’s of the destination is covered, often with views of Mount Etna (sleeps 8; embarrassing.’ cheap, but with a 10m pool and a Our fave five: A 15-minute walk through USP: Sheer Balearic bliss — at palace of a roof terrace (sleeps 8; from by one-off homes that Massimo has from £2,767). Les Johnson, rosemary-scented garden looking out olive groves to Prasoudi beach on wallet-busting prices £6,275). Two families, small kids? Try persuaded his friends to rent out. But southeast London over vineyards to Grimaud castle, Villa Corfu, Adonis has a roof terrace just Because: The real-life Mr & Mrs Smith six-bedroom Villa Frondosa, which has that doesn’t mean it’s high-end only A&K VILLAS Rose is a bargain (sleeps 8; from made for holiday novels (sleeps 4; — aka James Lohan and his wife, Tamara a playground, trampoline and tennis — he rents a handful of stylish, historic USP: Euro luxe £1,855). Half an hour’s drive from from £675). On Lanzarote, Villa Clara Heber-Percy — are on a one-couple Siesta style: above, court, 10 minutes’ toddle from Ibiza’s converted flats on the beach in Cefalù Because: Founder Geoffrey Kent was Disneyland, 40 minutes from Orlando bedroom in Villa is a whitewashed suntrap in Tías village mission against holiday horrors, after Luxe, Mallorca. Aguas Blancas beach (sleeps 12; from from just £525 per week (020 3529 born on safari, and raised on the family airport, Abacos Apartments are — a rarity on an island where most villas a spa break from hell inspired them Opposite, clockwise £7,844). On Mallorca, Villa Picasso is 8013, massimovillas.com). farm in Kenya. What’s that got to do gleaming, modern family pads at are in the resorts (sleeps 6; from £650). to launch their own hotel guide in 2003. from top left, Villa five minutes from Pollença, with a Our fave five: Owned by Massimo with your villa? Well, his company might Bahama Bay Resort (sleeps 6; from On Mallorca, Ca’n Paulo rolls out sleek, Since March they’ve been doing villas, Vigneto Villagrande, sumptuous pool house (sleeps 8; from himself, Villa Rita in beachy Cefalù, now have a name for luxe — Bill Gates, £800). On Fuerteventura, 20 minutes’ Sicily; the Cretan geometric interiors, with vast glass too: 58 of them, all big on sex appeal, crashpad Villa Kamy; £4,097); clifftop Villa Luxe has a sauna, on the north coast, is bambino-tastic, Tom Hanks and Henry Kissinger are all walk from Villaverde village, Horizonte bringing the outside in and a pool bar all in Mallorca and Ibiza, all personally pool at Adonis, Corfu wine cellar, art gallery-like interiors with swings, a garden slide and toys clients — but adventure is still at its is a two-family bargain, with four >

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Decks appeal: James Villas’ Villa Filip, Croatia. Opposite, grand Rocca delle Tre Contrade, Sicily bedrooms, a pool table and heated What I learned swimming pool (sleeps 10; from £984). No.4 Your checklist change its name, cleaning may not be for success making it harder to find included. Some villas THE THINKING TRAVELLER Breakages cheaper elsewhere. even charge to rent out ‘We arrived to find USP: Quality guaranteed Instead, Google the bed linen and towels. the furniture was Because: So passionate are founders run-down and the villa description to find Read the small print. Huw and Rosella, they ditched their fans didn’t work. out who else is listing high-octane jobs in Paris to start afresh To top it all off, at the it and for what price. DO travel with end of the trip the in Sicily in 2002. Soon they were letting owners charged us DO ask for more: Villa like-minded friends: friends’ villas. Today, TTT’s villas for torn sun loungers agencies are in direct DON’T be scared by Who will cook? Can the can be rented only through them. and a broken communication with the high price: Villas kids stay up late? Who ‘It means we can invest time and bannister, which we homeowners, so ask tend to be listed by will drive? Will you split did not damage.’ money,’ says Huw. ‘The ultimate The solution: ‘The about free extras. Keen the price for the whole food bills? Who gets the quality control.’ Local concierges owner said I should to stay competitive, the property, not the price best room — should augment a personal service (020 have told her about owners might throw in per person. This means they pay more? Decide the breakages on 7377 8518, thethinkingtraveller.com). day one and taken car hire, a private chef a £400-a-night luxury all this beforehand. Our fave five: On Sicily, Al Profondo photos as evidence. or free housekeeping. villa that sleeps 12 is in Blu is a seafront hideaway on a private I will do next time. fact only £33 a night per DON’T expect to be nature reserve (sleeps 6; from £2,685), In future, I’ll be less DON’T be fooled by the person. Not so scary! greeted upon arrival: likely to use a while Rocca delle Tre Contrade is a 19th- direct-to-owner site bed count: It may say You’re usually left to century Downton with maid, cook, 25m as there’s not it sleeps 12, but large- DO turn away staff sort yourself out — no GETTY 4CORNERS, PHOTOGRAPHS: enough comeback. pool and views over Etna and the sea capacity villas often if you want privacy: help with luggage, no alph I’ll book with an R (sleeps 12-24; from £8,875-£12,963). accommodate some Some villas, especially meet and greet. Expect established rental annah

In Puglia, Trullo Gaura is a beautifully agency so that, if the guests on sofabeds. in Asia, will include a key-collection point H finished trullo — the conical-roofed villa falls short, they If you each want your housekeepers — there and a welcome book construction of the region — with can move us at once.’ own bedroom, read is nothing wrong with or hamper. That’s it. Martin Thackray, gardens and a pool (sleeps 8; from Bristol the specs carefully. asking them to clean £4,355). Cut off by olives and pines, less often or visit only DO make note of when Jura, on Greece’s Alonissos, has four DO outsmart the when you are out. you’ll arrive: Getting bedrooms spilling onto a terrace with system: Many owners lost in the dark is no fun. dining area and pool (sleeps 8; from list their property both DON’T forget to ask Write down directions, £3,874). On Meganisi, Akrothea independently and about additional fees: have some photos has garden-gate access to the sea, with rental agencies. Pool heating and air- of the villa and the an infinity pool and daily maid Agents will often con can be pricey, and owners’ contact details.

service (sleeps 10; from £4,032). MILLER, ALICIA LAZELL, JEREMY BOWMAN, KATIE WORDS:

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